Phil Hughes Injury: Updates on Twins SP's Knee and Return

Things continue to get worse for the Minnesota Twins, who will be without starting pitcher Phil Hughes due to a knee injury. 

Continue for updates. 

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Hughes to DL

Saturday, June 11

Per Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, Hughes will be out for six to eight weeks with a fracture just above his left knee. 

Berardino added that Hughes will be on crutches while waiting for the fracture to heal, and a "September return" would be "almost" a best-case scenario.   

Hughes was injured during Minnesota's 10-3 loss against the Miami Marlins after taking a line-drive hit by J.T. Realmuto off his knee in the ninth inning. 

Friday was a hard day for Twins pitchers because Hughes and Trevor May were both placed on the disabled list, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. 

This has been a horrible season for the Twins and for Hughes. The Twins are tied with the Atlanta Braves for the worst record in Major League Baseball (18-42). Meanwhile, Hughes has a 1-7 record with an ERA of 5.95, 76 hits allowed, 34 strikeouts and 11 home runs allowed in 59 innings. 

Even though Hughes had the highest ERA among Minnesota starters, Ricky Nolasco, Tyler Duffey and Tommy Milone all have marks above 5.00. Pat Dean has the lowest ERA among Twins starting pitchers with at least four starts (4.75). 

It's been hard to find anything positive about the Twins so far in 2016. Joe Mauer is hitting well, but that's where the good vibes stop. 

Hughes' absence only compounds problems for the Twins, who have already been forced to use nine different starting pitchers through 60 games. This will be a summer of heavy evaluation in Minnesota to determine which players will be around for the future.